Saw palmetto Berry Extract

Can I take saw palmetto for hair loss?

The best form of saw palmetto for hair loss.

Is saw palmetto good for female hair loss?

Is saw palmetto safe for female hair loss?

What to take with saw palmetto for hair loss.

Saw palmetto for hair loss topical.

Saw palmetto hair loss oral or topical.

How long to take saw palmetto for hair loss.

How to use saw palmetto topically for hair loss

Saw palmetto products are derived from the ripe fruits (berries) of
Serenoa repens (commonly known as dwarf palm, American dwarf
palm tree, cabbage palm, sabal). Saw palmetto (so named for its fan
shaped leaves) is native to and grows wild in North America, in sandy
soils from Texas and Louisiana, east to South Carolina, Georgia and
south to Florida, as well as in various islands in the Bahamas and
Cuba.

The plant is an evergreen shrub, usually 2 to 10 feet tall, with creeping or horizontal rhizomes and
occasionally reaches the size of a small tree, up to 20 to 25 feet 1,2,3. The shrubs bloom from April
through June and the fruits begin to ripen in mid- August. As ripening occurs, fruits turn in color from
green (May-June) to yellow (mid-August), to orange (September), and then to bluish-black (SeptemberOctober)
when ripe.

POTENTIAL TOPICAL APPLICATIONS

Although no actual clinical data are available, saw palmetto extract is believed to be beneficial in
conditions such as androgenetic alopecia and for topical use in anti-acne formulations. These potential
applications are based on the fact that in in vitro studies, saw palmetto extract was shown to inhibit both
known isoforms of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. 5-alpha-reductase catalyzes the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The biological role of DHT in androgen related disorders is well documented. Animal model and human clinical data validate the beneficial effects of
saw palmetto extract in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)10, an androgen-mediated
disorder for which treatment measures are based on the inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase. However, the
authors of one in vitro study that investigated the effects of the extract on primary cultures of fibroblasts
and epithelial cells from the prostate, epididymis, testes, kidney, skin and breast reported that saw
palmetto extract was an effective inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase only in prostate cells, suggesting the
selectivity and specificity of the lipido-sterolic extract.

DHT and hair homeostasis:

Caspases are enzymes that degrade DNA during programmed cell death (apoptosis), and some specific
caspases are believed to function as mediators of the hair growth cycle. A recent study established the
role of DHT in selectively regulating the caspase genes which play an important role in signaling
programmed cell death, affecting the hair growth cycle. The authors of this study postulated that DHT
may be signaling greater expression of caspases, inducing apoptosis in androgenetic alopecia12 (male
pattern baldness /scalp hair loss in females).

DHT and skin conditions:

Conditions such as unwanted hair growth (idiopathic female hirsutism), acne and seborrhoea (excessive
secretion of sebum) result from the action of androgens on the skin. The severity of these effects are
dependent upon androgen production by the ovary or adrenal gland and the bioavailability of androgen to
peripheral tissues. This in turn is related to transport of plasma androgens by specific binding proteins
and to peripheral metabolism of testosterone and androstenedione to the more potent DHT. An effective
anti-androgen is one which blocks the androgen receptor-mediated actions of testosterone and DHT on
skin.

Isotretinoin, used to treat severe acne, has been shown to induce hormonal changes, especially to reduce
5 alpha-reductase in the production of the tissue-derived dihydrotestosterone (DHT) metabolite 3 alphaAdiol. Serum levels of 3 alpha-Adiol-G reflect the extent of androgen action in peripheral tissues.
Another potential application is in the management of idiopathic female hirsutism. According to
researchers, an excess of skin 5 alpha-reductase activity may be considered to be a cause of hirsutism
and therefore this condition could benefit from the use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.

Source:

International Journal of Dermatology

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